Knicks rumored to be gunning for Anthony Davis

On Monday, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans dropped a bombshell on the League when he requested a trade from his organization.

Over the course of the season, the Pelicans held tight to the belief that they were not going to trade the superstar big man. However, speculation continued to swirl that Davis would be dealt by the trade deadline. Even if he wasn’t, almost no one believed that he was going to stay in New Orleans past the end of this season.

Now that Davis has put himself out there, many teams have contacted the Pelicans in hopes of landing the big man. While the Lakers have been rumored to be the front runner for Davis, fans have wondered if the New York Knicks could make a worthwhile pitch for the star power forward.

What can the Knicks offer for Davis?

The Knicks have been rumored to make a move by the trade deadline. Most recently, rumors have alleged that the Knicks are willing to put Enes Kanter on the chopping block. As solid as Kanter has been this season, he may not be enough to rope New Orleans in. However, sending Kanter along with another player, such as Frank Ntilikina or Courtney Lee, may be more enticing to the Pelicans. More enticing still, though, would likely be a first-round draft pick.

The Knicks are currently in the midst of tanking, rounding out the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The team will certainly have a first-round draft pick that they could possibly deal for Davis. Such a prospect would likely make ears start to perk in New Orleans. However, the Knicks front office has not been keen to deal away their future players. Therefore, while the Knicks could certainly offer a first-round pick for Davis, the team may be reluctant to do that. Moreover, it may not make the most sense.

Short Term Goals vs. Long Term Goals for New York

Short term, the Knicks would probably love to make the playoffs this season. Long term, the team wants to bring a new culture of winning to the Big Apple. Making a move on Davis may not do either. First, to even the make the playoffs the Knicks would have to win almost every single game for the rest of the season. Even with the addition of Anthony Davis, the team may not be able to pull off such a feat.

Another consideration is Davis’ impending free agency. Now, no one can deny that pairing Anthony Davis and Kristaps Porzingis would create one of the best front courts in the League. However, if a trade occurs, there is no guarantee that Davis will stay with the Knicks. He has made it clear that he wants to be on a contender, and right now the Knicks simply aren’t one. This circles back to what the Knicks are willing offer for Davis. If the Knicks trade away a draft pick in order to land the big man, their investment goes out the window if he bolts during the summer. Unless the Knicks are confident they can get him to stay, making the move may not be the best idea.

In Conclusion

Trading for Davis has its clear merits. If he falls in love with New York and he stays, this move could very well be worth it. However, without any guarantee that Davis can turn this season around or that he will stay past the summer, this wouldn’t be the best move for New York. If the Knicks are truly interested, the best option could be to try to lure Davis during free agency. Making the move now, though, may prove to be far too risky.